Boy, who would have thought about this so soon. I was able to browse through it last Tuesday and I'm pretty sure a lot of MRT and LRT commuters would be alarmed about this especially if the increase is almost twice. Apparently it hasn't take effect yet since they haven't released any updated fare matrix for this. 

Read the whole story here or down below. XD

Govt approves MRT, LRT fare hikes

Taken from Google

The government has approved the new rates for Metro Manila train lines despite opposition from commuters, a television report said Tuesday.

Starting March 1, 2011, passengers taking the MRT and the LRT lines 1 and 2 will pay P11 boarding fee, with additional P1 for every succeeding kilometer, according to Raffy Tima’s report on GMA News’ “24 Oras."

Tima said the new rates were announced by Transportation Undersecretary Dante Velasco at a press briefing Tuesday.

Based on the new rates, the P20 fare in LRT line 1 from Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City to Baclaran in Parañaque City will be increased to P30, while the P15 fare in LRT line 2 from Marikina City to Legarda in Manila will be hiked to P25.

MRT has yet to release its new fare matrix, according to the TV report.

The report said the government could save an estimated P1.2 billion a year as a result of the fare increase.

Velasco said the higher rates would mean better services for commuters like shorter waiting times, cleaner facilities and faster trains.

“The speed (of the trains) will be increased from 40 kilometer per hour to 60 kilometer per hour," said Velasco. “This will require… aayusin yung (upgrade of) rail tracks."

The provisional fare hike was approved by the LRT board and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). It will undergo public consultation next month, the report said.

Around 500,000 commuters take the MRT (North Ave. in Quezon City to Taft Avenue Extension in Pasay City) everyday, while the LRT line 1 has a daily ridership of over half a million. LRT line 2 is used by around 250,000 people every day. - KBK, GMANews.TV

The week that was (January 2 - 8)

This would be my first for 2011. XD

Sunday: I was hoping for a stress-free, call-free shift until I got a call that requires me to escalate it since it is beyond my support boundaries. After my shift, instead of going home to Sampaloc, I went to San Pedro to get some clothes and give the cellphone I've bought for my dad. Going there took me at least an hour and a half. When I got home, my dad wasn't there. So is my mom (who went out to do some groceries) and my sisters. I relaxed for a bit and had a very hearty breakfast before going to bed at around 11:00am.Then I got up at around 4:00pm and my dad wasn't still home yet. I had my late lunch and got myself ready to go back home in Manila. By 7:00pm, my dad was not yet home so I told my mom that I got dad a new cellphone. Just as I was about to get a tricycle, I was able to see my dad and told him that his new cellphone was on his cabinet. It took me almost 2 hours to get back home so I tried to get some naps while traveling. I got home at around 8:30pm and rested for a while before finally going to sleep.

Monday: I got up from bed at 3:00am even though I am already at my senses as early as 2:30am. I just went online and did some personal stuff until 9:30am. Then I went to SM Manila to buy myself some things that I need for the week's activities. As I got home, I was surprised that my wife was getting ready for work after four months of rest. I even watched TV after I accompany my wife to the LRT station in Legarda since the topic was about food. I got up a bit early since I'll be alone for the night. Its kinda new to me working on Monday nights after having it as my rest day for four months.

Tuesday: And when the phone was passed to me at 12:45am. I got at least 6 calls and several emails that I need to work on before my shift ends. Now this is what I called at work. XD. I've been quite busy for the past 2 hours or so answering calls and emails as well. Good thing our GHD (Global Help Desk Manager) was there for assistance. It seems that I've been busy the entire shift, I wasn't able to do much personal stuff over the internet XD. Probably at around 5:00am, I felt tired already because of the workload that I got. After my shift, I went home right away using the Buendia-LRT-LRT2 route. But an unfortunate icident happened on LRT Line 2 which was having technical problem so I had no choice but to take a jeep going home. I went online for a couple of minutes before taking my wife to the LRT (which was ok now) and had my snack of shawarma rice. Then I went back hone to take a shower and went straight to bed. Then, I had a dream. Me and my family went up north on an trip when suddenly I lost ALL of my photography equipment (Camera body, Lens, Accessories) I tried to recover it but I was unsuccessful. Good thing it was a bad dream and I checked my camera bag and they are still there XD. While going to work, my colleague from the midshift told me that my team mate at the night shift won't be able to report today which means I'll be all alone again XD.

Wednesday: Work was quite steady as compared to the previous night. I got a few easy calls that I was able to fix right away. I was able to do some stuff online even for a short while. After work, I got home right away to wake my wife up and take her to the LRT Station before going to sleep. I got up a bit late since I slept at past 12:00pm. Even I got late in the office, good thing my colleague was here already. Before the clock strikes midnight, I was able to work on some tickets to avoid getting dumped with a lot of pending tickets.

Thursday: Good thing its all normal here. We were not swamped with calls though we need to respond to the emails that our US clients send us.Good thing we didn't had any phone calls for the day as we finished our shift. I went home via Crossing-Quiapo route. But we me and my colleague had to stop at Tropical Hut since both of us got really hungry. After a hearty breakfast, we continued traveling until we reached our respective homes. My wife was sleeping soundly when I arrived. I woke her up and make sure she is ready for work. After taking her to the LRT station, I went back home to go online until probably 11:30am. Then before going to sleep, I read the book we purchased when I took my wife to the Hospital for her monthly check-up. It was a good book (probably will do a separate review on the book). I got up seven hours later and got myself ready for work. As usual, I got late again but hey, my colleague was there already XD.

Friday: Work was quite steady in the office as we transitioned from Thursday to Friday. Good thing we were able to do our respective personal stuffs online as we only had email requests. Then after shift, I went home via MRT-LRT2 which took me a while. When I got home, my wife was already taking her bath, getting ready for work. After taking her to the LRT station, I went back home to go online and do some blog reading from other blog sites. I was up until 2:00pm hoping I could stay awake until evening but unfortunately, I fell asleep and got up at 8:30pm. My wife was the one who woke me up when she got home from work. Good thing I was still able to keep myself awake until both me and my wife went upstairs to sleep. 

Saturday: Good thing I was able to get some sleep and got up at around 4:00am. I went online to check some personal stuff and email CBTL about my complain (they wanted me to email them to make it formal). Then I kept myself online until 7:00am since I'll be going out to attend my first photowalk this year in Quiapo (I'll make a separate blog for this). I left home at around 8:30am after a hearty breakfast and head straight to Quiapo. I was able to meet my good friend Jeff as well as met some new friends from flickristas. It was also the day before the Feast of the Black Nazarene so there were more people than usual in Quiapo which gives me plenty of subjects to shoot. I was able to do a short photowalk for atleast 2-3 hours before heading to Greenhills. Once I got there, I passed by a restaurant since I got really hungry. Then, I proceed to the place where I need to go and will be there for the next few Saturdays. After the session, I went home right away since my wife missed me a lot XD. But before I went home, she asked me to buy something for her which made me pass by SM Centerpoint. Then all of a sudden, my wife changed her mind and wanted me to go home right away. Instead, I went to Shakey's ay SM Centerpoint and ordered an 18" pizza for all of us back home. I came home very tired and drained but I was able to enjoy the day. I slept at around 9:30pm since I am very sleepy that time.

And CBTL Responds

When I got home yesterday, I got a response from CBTL regarding my rant last Dec 31, 2010. This is how it began after I felt disappointed to find out their Greenbelt 3 Store closed 30 minutes ahead of their supposedly closing time last December 31 (at 9:00PM). 

They sent me a personal message on facebook asking me to send them an email about the incident. 

Then, they sent me an email and they were apologetic on what happened. But before they replied. Here is my email to them before they replied.

And here is their reply. 

I haven't replied yet since I'm a little bit busy from work and I haven't choose the flavor I wanted to try.

Bottomline here especially for those who have businesses, listen to your customer. Let them air out their thoughts so you could learn from them. 

I have nothing against CBTL. In fact, I liked some of the products I tried recently especially I'm one stamp away from getting my planner from them. And theirs would make the competition run for their money (I'll probably create a separate blog about their planner, and my feedback once my concern has been aired). 

For now, I have to think which flavor to try. XD

What's special about 1/11/11?

NOTHING!!!

For me its just an ordinary date =P

But if its your birthday today, then happy birthday to you. XD

How to be stressed in 2011

While doing my regular stuff, I was able to browse this over The Philippine Star, Saturday's issue.

If you found year 2010 stressful, and you would want to keep yourself stressed in the New Year, then make sure you understand the principles why you should stay stressed.

Here are the reasons why staying stressed is so important:

* STRESS HELPS YOU SEEM IMPORTANT. Anyone as stressed as you must be working very hard and, therefore, is probably doing something very crucial.

* IT HELPS YOU TO MAINTAIN PERSONAL DISTANCE AND AVOID INTIMACY. Anyone as busy as you are certainly can’t be expected to form emotional attachments to anyone. And let’s face it, you’re not much fun to have around anyway.

* IT HELPS YOU AVOID RESPONSIBILITIES. Obviously, you are too stressed to be given any more work. This gets you off the hook for all the mundane chores. Let someone else take care of them.

* IT HELPS YOU AVOID SUCCESS. Why take risks just to be successful, when by being stressed you can avoid all kinds of risks? Stress keeps your performance level so low, even success won’t be a threat.

* IT GIVES YOU A CHEMICAL RUSH. Stress can actually be considered a cheap thrill, and you can give yourself a ‘hit’ or a ‘high’ any time you choose. But be careful! You just might get addicted to your own adrenaline.

* STRESS ALSO HELPS YOU KEEP YOUR AUTHORITARIAN MANAGEMENT STYLE. The authoritarian style of ‘Just do what I say!’ is generally permissible under crisis conditions. If you maintain a perpetually-stressed crisis atmosphere, then you can justify an authoritarian style of management all of the time. And now that the New Year is here, make sure you do the following in order to stay stressed:

* NEVER EXERCISE. Exercise wastes a lot of the time that could be spent worrying.

* EAT ANYTHING YOU WANT. Hey, if cigarette smoke can’t cleanse your system, a balanced diet isn’t likely to either.

* GAIN WEIGHT. Work hard at staying at least 25 pounds over your recommended weight.

* TAKE PLENTY OF STIMULANTS. The old standards of caffeine, nicotine, sugar, and cola will continue to do the job just fine.

* GET RID OF YOUR SOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEM. Let the few friends who are willing to tolerate you know that you concern yourself with friendships only if you have the time - and that you never have time. If a few people persist in trying to be your friend, avoid them.

* PERSONALIZE ALL CRITICISM. Anyone who criticizes any aspect of your work, family, house, car or dog is mounting a personal attack. Don’t waste time to listen to them; be offended, then return the attack!

* THROW OUT YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR. Staying stressed is no laughing matter, and it shouldn’t be treated as one.

* MALES AND FEMALES ALIKE BE MACHO: Never ask for any help. And if you want it done right, do it yourself!

* BECOME A WORKAHOLIC: Put work before everything else, and be sure to take work home in the evenings and for the weekends. Keep reminding yourself that vacations are for sissies.

* PROCRASTINATE. Putting things off until the last second always produces a marvelous... amount of stress.

* WORRY ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN’T CONTROL: Worry about the stock market, the credit crunch, water shortage... And earthquakes. And the approaching Ice Age. You know, all the big issues.

* BECOME NOT JUST A PERFECTIONIST, BUT ONE WITH IMPOSSIBLY HIGH STANDARDS. And either beat yourself up, or feel guilty, depressed, discouraged and inadequate when you don’t meet them.

When you do all these, I promise you, life will become unbearable. You will become unbearable. And you will lie down on your bed and wonder why some people just have the good fortune of being successful and happy – and you don’t... Duh?!

There will be challenges awaiting us, but learn to live one day at a time. Never for a moment forget that God is still in control, and that you are not God.